In Encinitas, the park tree became part of the Smiths’ holiday traditions. They always brought their grandchildren over to admire the work.

Joanne remembers going out with her husband last year to admire the tree for the last time together.

She and a caregiver brought her husband out in a wheelchair to the dazzling tree. They marveled at every glimmering piece of tinsel, the oddly cut snowflakes hand-made by local kids, and the wreaths that had been hung on the tree with care.

Emery was hardly talking then, but Joanne remembers him smiling.

“You could tell he was enjoying it,” she said.

Emery passed on Feb. 2.

Today the tree is over a dozen feet tall, but Joanne still calls it “the little tree.”

Just when Joanne started to think the neighbors had forgotten, over the past weekend some people came by to adorn the tree.

Thanks to them, every piney branch sparkles with red and green orbs, strands of beads, and fuzzy stockings.

“It’s like someone threw up or vomited Christmas decorations all over it,” Joanne said with a laugh.

On Wednesday morning, she walked around the tree, admiring each and every holiday piece and pointing out the ones she has hung over the years. She was sure to leave ornament hangers for anyone who wanted to hang more.

“It really lifted my spirits since this is my first Christmas alone,” she said. “The tree is absolutely glorious. It’s the most beautiful it’s ever been.”